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The Cogals

Cogals (pronounce it correctly: kog-al) are meetings of like-minded misfits brought together by the promise of beer, preceded by a bike ride. Cogals are free, open to all, organized by our fellow Velominati and are always followed by consumption of post-ride recovery ales and merriment. These are gatherings of unbridled observance of Rule #4.

Cogals differ themselves from other group rides by the meeting the following criteria:

First, Cogals are free, organized and supported through Velominati, though not necessarily a Keeper. Anyone is welcome to join a Cogal. Legally speaking, however, we have no involvement, so if you crash or die, it’s your own problem. Please be careful to study the route previously and take precautionary measures to stay safe.

Second, a Cogal is a day-long undertaking that focuses 100% on the bike. The rides are categorized (Casually Deliberate, Rule #5, Rule #10, for example) but are long. This is what you’re doing today, nothing else; see Rule #4. Rides can be any length, but a minimum distance of 130km should be expected.

Third, Cogals always include a session of Malted Recovery Beverage Consumption after the ride. Whenever possible, it should also include a pre-ride espresso.

Not all the events in The Cogals are actual Cogals. We also post rides and events that are of interest to the community, as well as Keepers Tours, which are Velominati-hosted, paid cycling Tours tailored to the tastes of a velominatus.

Any member of the community is welcomed to organize a Cogal. If interested, either post your interest below or email us with the following information:

For what ever reason, bringing together a bunch of like minded cycling nuts just seems to work. Whether you know the individual or group from previous rides, or whether they are complete strangers and the only interaction has been in the mysterious world of the inter portals, it doesnt matter.

The planets just seem to align on a Cogal and as evidenced by February’s Fleurieu Peninsula heat fest, everyone bands together to get the group home in one peice to enjoy tales of the ride and amber fluid and fine food.

We are upping the anti this year in sunny and hopefully not too hot South Australia and aiming for TWO cogals to coincide with our own world tour event and a couple of little known cobble classics across the oceans.

OK, who fancies a Yorkshire Cogal to mark this year’s visit of ‘Le Tour’.

We’re going to be up there watching it over the weekend of 5th/6th July, so I was thinking of putting something together on Friday 4th. We’re camping near the village of Hawes and so we’ll base the ride from there.

I’ll put a route together taking in as much of the actual tour route as possible.

OK, who fancies a Yorkshire Cogal to mark this year’s visit of ‘Le Tour’.

We’re going to be up there watching it over the weekend of 5th/6th July, so I was thinking of putting something together on Friday 4th. We’re camping near the village of Hawes and so we’ll base the ride from there.

I’ll put a route together taking in as much of the actual tour route as possible.

Who’s in?

@Frank

Can we get this up on the Cogal Calendar?

Potentially though Friday could be an issue but I may be able to arrange to have some business in Leeds/Bradford on the Thurs if I am lucky which would sort things for me.

OK, who fancies a Yorkshire Cogal to mark this year’s visit of ‘Le Tour’.

We’re going to be up there watching it over the weekend of 5th/6th July, so I was thinking of putting something together on Friday 4th. We’re camping near the village of Hawes and so we’ll base the ride from there.

I’ll put a route together taking in as much of the actual tour route as possible.

Who’s in?

@Frank

Can we get this up on the Cogal Calendar?

Would love to but I’ve managed to book my main target of the year for the same weekend in Italy. Doh!

Not getting a map on that link but I’m imagining Sydenham, Snake, and not one, not two, but three approaches up Rattlesnake!! I was planning on doing the Tour de Waterloo on the 22nd, but a day of pain with fellow Velominati sounds more rewarding. I’ll see if I can get my brother-@Duncan-in on this as well. (Should we move this discussion to the Cogals thread?)

Okay, I didn’t see the posting in the Cogals section, must have missed it. I have to think that moving the thread makes sense.

Here’s the moveover start for the proposed 2014 Southern Ontario Cogal. I hope this moveover is by the Rules enough.

@Nate Am I going to want to put 28s on my bike for this ride? Currently running 25s.

25s should be fine. That’s what I am running. The photo of packed dirt is representative of most of the unpaved surface. You might have more fun on the dirt on the 28s, but depending on the tire, you of course have to push them around the rest of the paved part of the ride.

Ok, after about a year of dealing with this fucking bug with the calendar, I think its fixed. You should be able to scroll through the calendar again and hopefully the calendar won’t keep getting replaced by the next (or was it the last or maybe random?) event on the calendar.

Computers. They make you 100% more efficient but create 200% more work.

There is; @eightzero must have it in the queue. I think its the third weekend in October. Should be properly cold and fucked.

Should we have a French cogal of the falling leaves the third weekend in October? I submit Le Havre to Caen as a potential route – 137km.

David

Bugger, and I thought we were talking about a nice June/July jaunt in the Sun with long balmy evenings, farmhouse coffee and crepe stops and you are planning a (nearly) mid winter slog in an Atlantic Gale. Call me Complaining-Cancel-lara but…..oh well, I have to potentially count myself in………

There is; @eightzero must have it in the queue. I think its the third weekend in October. Should be properly cold and fucked.

Should we have a French cogal of the falling leaves the third weekend in October? I submit Le Havre to Caen as a potential route – 137km.

David

Bugger, and I thought we were talking about a nice June/July jaunt in the Sun with long balmy evenings, farmhouse coffee and crepe stops and you are planning a (nearly) mid winter slog in an Atlantic Gale. Call me Complaining-Cancel-lara but…..oh well, I have to potentially count myself in………

Correct on all counts. 10/18/14. It’s in the queue; I just emailed @gianni yesterday to nudge him.

I have also reconnoitered practically all of the Seattle Summer Cogal 2015. It will be *epic* yet doable. I am open to date suggestions. STV was a success, but perhaps we wish to move into late June to avoid the scorching heat. Once a date is picked, we are going to all put it on our calendars. Right @frank? Right?

Not hard or long(unless the weather decides to play up), but enough to keep us going. Cafe stop just after half way in Sorn if it’s open. There is even a good 12km section before we get back to the city for some through and off to keep the development squad occupied if they haven’t dropped us by then…

Main problem being the first 10km, and last 14km are through the city, which probably isn’t too appealing.

UK North, South, East, West what interest in a Cogal? Rerun the London Cogal and see if we can avoid getting drowned (and lost)? Something different – Wales, Lakes, Dartmoor, Flat Lands?

Funnily enough, @Roadslave525 and I were discussing the need for another Cogal. Would it really be fun, or memorable if it wasn’t biblical and we got to the end with the same number of people (and/or Garmins) that we started with?